Wicked Chops Freeroll

Good thing: I am registered (you can too). Prize = $3,200 seat to the Borgata Winter Poker Open.

Bad thing: It's 9pm EST and already 95 people are registered (max 3,ooo sumthin').

While tournaments are not currently 'my thing,' as I prefer cash games better, an opportunity like this I cannot pass up. I remember my other tournament adventure, but 1st was only $100 - I will have to get plenty of rest beforehand.

Poker Culture

There is a current poker culture, no matter how much I close my eyes to it on this blog. I realize if I am to properly document my poker growth, then I have to look beyond me into our current poker state:

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

-John Donne

While I am not going to cover every event, I will touch upon some things that either affect me directly or indirectly, or things that occupy my mind.

That being said, here are two blurbs on the latest:

1. A Pennsylvania judge ruled that poker is a game of skill; the Poker Player's Alliance should wipe off their newspaper; a small step in an uphill battle against the UIEGA
2. Looks like I'm going to have to buy this book (Elements Of Poker), as everyone is talking about it.

Defining Moments

Success is not an independent event, but a result of decisions and actions that have transpired over a period of time. If you are lucky, there's a special moment when you have a revelation of sorts and something clicks in your head (aka., 'aha moment') resulting in a quantum leap of your understanding and outlook.

About 11 months ago, I was fortunate to be reading Card Player Magazine (more fortunate was that it's delivered free to my job and I know the guy in the mail room). So, after reading this article my game was never the same. I stopped playing my cards and started to play my opponent's cards. HUGE! It really opened up my game and it was never the same. It's titled Three no-limit hold'em 'giveaways' and should be read by anyone serious about poker.

Going Down, But Not Out Of The Show

"I thought you were dead" - MRFOXWOODS (a player who hadn't seen me for awhile).

I have to admit that I am very happy with my ability to 'dip' down a level (or two) when things are not going right. Some bad play and a ton of bad luck can jeopardize anyone's bankroll. And minus the tilt factor + bankroll management one will survive to flop quads another day.

It's happened to me again, that is I went on a huge cooler this past weekend and lost a ton. And again, I managed to make most of it back putting me in rebuild mode for this past week.

While playing around three different levels for several weeks, I can't say that I will be committed to any one level: I've played hands that can barely pay for a newspaper and others that can buy an iPod; I've run hot and cold; been in a good mood and bad; played against fish and sharks. What is trying to be said here is that my level is fluctual depending on myself and the game (i.e., table selection). Why pigeon hole myself to one game at one level, when there may be something juicer above or below?

Next entry: Goals.

Happy New Year

Well, it's the new year and a lot of blogs by tradition are publishing year-in-review posts. Not I...don't think I've been poker blogging long enough to do one of those, plus I just don't want to be cliche.

There is some news however! I have managed to make most of my bankroll back (95%) on Bodog from a previous huge loss (45%), keeping me ahead by a huge percentage. Also, I've managed to make half of my roll back on PokerStars, keeping my losses down. I'm happy about both situations.

Another thing I can reflect on is this blog as a whole. Although, I'm used to a large readership base from my previous endeavor, the minuscule traffic here does not phase me one bit - proving to myself that this blog is a fit for my needs and not the masses.

Have a great 2009!

Hardships With Moving Up

Ever since I've moved up on Bodog to .25NL, I've suffered some huge coolers. What would happen is that I would lose 30, make 1o back, and then lose 20 again. My trips would lose to a fullhouse maybe 3 times for some huge hands and I've suffered some bad coolers as well ever since I tried to move up levels. My play has been very good, but unfortunately bad luck is over-riding my play (conversely, my play at the same level on PokerStars has been huge).

It's been a very frustrating experience, but I remain untilted. If I lose the $$$, I've allocated for this level I will move back down and rebuild. By the end of this weekend I should know where I stand.

Busted Flush Draw & Ass Ended Straight

Lately, bets are flying all over the tables. Yesterday's session, got me out of a slump I've been having for the past few days.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($15.50)
SB ($33.75)
Hero (BB) ($22.60)




Preflop: Hero is BB with J, 10
Button raises to $0.50, SB calls $0.40, Hero calls $0.25
Flop: ($1.50) 9, 8, 7 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button bets $1.25, SB calls $1.25, Hero calls $1.25
Turn: ($5.25) 6 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button bets $2.50, SB raises to $6, Hero raises to $20.85 (All-In), Button calls $11.25 (All-In), SB calls $14.85
River: ($60.70) 2 (3 players, 2 all-in)
Total pot: $60.70 | Rake: $1

Results:
Button mucked 9, A (one pair, nines).
SB had 10, K (straight, ten high).
Hero had J, 10 (straight, Jack high).

Outcome: Hero won $59.70

I made the HUGE overbet for a couple of reasons: to protect against the flush draw/at the same time making it expensive if they want to try to draw out on me; I was hoping the SB had a 10 and would have to call.

What's In An Icon?

I'm not too much into poker player icons where a site may let you choose from a predetermined list, or allows you to upload one yourself. But given the opportunity, I will select something.

Some will tell you that you can gain a lot of information from a players icon, stating that you can get some kind of indication of who's behind the remote mouse: an aggressive player may choose to show something violent or intimidating; or a softer player may chose to have their kid or dog (my dog happens to be my PokerStars icon). Some choose not to show anything for various reasons, but even when not choosing one may say something like you don't want to give away information.

I wouldn't read too much into any of this as some players intentionally try to mislead others, proving you can't rely on any reads you may think you have from a picture, and simply becuase sometimes a pic is just a pic. The best thing to do in getting a read on another player is betting patterns, and what have when they show down.

The below is my player icon; read into it if you may...

UB Gives Pot To Hellmuth Who Mucked!

Go read how UB gave Phil Hellmuth a pot who mucked his hand to a player who had 3 of a kind, with Phil acting casually. Epic.

Stage #XXXXXXX: Holdem (1 on 1) Normal $200/$400 - 2008-12-20 04:15:23 (ET)
Table: FIR AVE (Real Money) Seat #4 is the dealer
Seat 4 - PHILHELLMUTH ($4495 in chips)
Seat 6 - DOUBLEBALLER ($7494 in chips)
PHILHELLMUTH - Posts small blind $100
DOUBLEBALLER - Posts big blind $200
*** POCKET CARDS ***
PHILHELLMUTH - Raises $300 to $400
DOUBLEBALLER - Raises $400 to $600
PHILHELLMUTH - Raises $400 to $800
DOUBLEBALLER - Calls $200
*** FLOP *** [Js Kc Kh]
DOUBLEBALLER - Checks
PHILHELLMUTH - Bets $200
DOUBLEBALLER - Raises $400 to $400
PHILHELLMUTH - Calls $200
*** TURN *** [Js Kc Kh] [2h]
DOUBLEBALLER - Bets $400
PHILHELLMUTH - Raises $800 to $800
DOUBLEBALLER - Raises $800 to $1200
PHILHELLMUTH - Calls $400
*** RIVER *** [Js Kc Kh 2h] [9c]
DOUBLEBALLER - Bets $400
PHILHELLMUTH - Calls $400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DOUBLEBALLER - Shows [Kd Qh] (Three of a kind, kings)
PHILHELLMUTH - Mucks
PHILHELLMUTH Collects $5599 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($5600) | Rake ($1)
Board [Js Kc Kh 2h 9c]
Seat 4: PHILHELLMUTH (dealer) (small blind) won Total ($5599) HI: ($5599) [Mucked] [2s 10s]
Seat 6: DOUBLEBALLER (big blind) HI:lost with Three of a kind, kings [Kd Qh - B:Kh,P:Kd,B:Kc,P:Qh,B:Js]

Unbelievable. I would like to play there b/c the play is so bad, but in light of tihs and the whole superuser scandal, I'll play elsewhere (looks like I don't have to look so far as there are much more worse play at PokerStars lately - former UB'ers?).

Stability

The way I see it there are no guarantees in the stock market, but I will push all-in with the nuts. And they call poker gambling.

$500 Freeroll

Being that I was amped for the Blogger's Tournament, but was unable to make the bodonkament becuase of registration issues, my fingers were pretty itchy for a challenge. Luckily, I found the $500 freeroll on Bodog starting at (unfortunately), 9pm EST.

After some grinding and luck I ran deep somewhere between 70 to 90 people around 12:55 with 78,000 in chips.

Knowing my stack, knowing the time, knowing the amount of players left, and knowing what time I had to be up left me at odds end if I really wanted to continue, but I couldn't quit now.

Then it happened.

About 1:30 am, I lost about 1/3 of my stack on a play I know I should of made AQ suited (the second one in a row), against a all-in reraise...KK. Another, was my preflop raise with JJ and a call, with a K on the board...he had it - I wasn't listening to the little voice. That was about another 20,000 and left me SS.

With my mind going toward the side of mush, and my enthusiasm wailing, and knowing what I would have to do to rebuild I knew it could easily run past 3am...I decided to have fun and push.

I busted out at 66th...63rd was in the money. It was a good experience and fun. No regrets.

The Little Engine That Could - NOT!

NY-Atlantic City Pony Engine

Just in time for the economic slowdown: a new luxury train direct from New York
to Atlantic City.

I've been waiting for this, because the drive for me out there is about 3 hours (a little more now that I moved up to Yonkers). But your telling me that this choo-choo will make it in 2 1/2 hours!?! What kinda express train is this? (((Grumble)))

So, before taking this trip I'll be asking myself if I-think-I-can.

Soft Is Hard; Hard Is Soft

Poker is not a static game. It is always evolving and changing; the cards can't be relied on, nor the players...all you can do is look at what is being offered and play your best game.

Lately, the play over at PokerStars is a donkey-hunter's dream. The texture of the games is soft, soft, soft. And the players just really play horrible lately by playing almost any two suited cards, chasing straights, and getting married to any Ace. I am not doing any necessary table selection, but just targeting the players via their stack sizes. I may be playing a little earlier than usual, so maybe that has a little to do with it, but my evening games fair just about the same.

Not having to think much, not worry about being played back, and seeing right through some moves is why I am logging into PokerStars more lately. Ironically, Bodog got a little harder. I'm playing some really soft cash games at PS right now.

Later...

See you at the felt tonight at the Blogger's Tournament.

Blogger Tournament

I've been reading up on a few blogger poker tournaments and signed up for both PokerStars and Bodog Blogger Tournamnetns. Looks like I have one chance on both sites to qualify for the final Blogger tournamnet.

...





On Bodog, it looks like two players to be aware of is $mokkee, and TonySoprano (plus anyone else who is on the leader board). If I have time, I'll research their game.

...

I don't know if I'll have time to play in the PokerStars blogger tournament as their freerolls run up until the 20th, which is the only day I may have a chance to play. But I signed up anyway.

(The below is a requirement for the event.)

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

The WBCOOP is an online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers.

Registration code: 337028

UPDATE: Looks like my little blog got me into the PokerStars tournament as well.

UPDATEII: I will not be playing at the Bodonkament (I didn't realize there was a registration process, which wasn't as clear cut as PokerStars' instructions).

Thank you for contacting Bodog Poker Customer Service.

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Please note that this process does need to be completed by our Tournaments
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Thank you very much for writing. Should
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